Lock for motor vehicles



April 22, 1930. E. F. ROBERTS I1,755,935

LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March 5, 1925 'flllllll/ll/ll 59 4-7 /32 x /4 gmwro 4 V Edwardzoem E r3.5 a@ T Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD F. ROBERTS, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Application led March 5, 1925. Serial No. 13,045.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and particularly to the body construction thereof and it has for one of its objects to provide a novel and inexpensive mounting for the seats of such a motor vehicle body..

Another object of the invention is to provide a storage space or compartment for a motor vehicle which will form a support for the seat cushions of such a vehicle, and in which the cushion shall constitute the sole cover for the compartment.

A further object is to provide a motor vehicle with a seat cushion removably secured in position over a compartment to form a cover therefor, and a lock for preventing unauthorized removal of such cushion.

Other objects of the invention will appear from ythe following description taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation ofthe forward portion of a motor vehicle body, partially in section and partially broken away, showing the application of the invention y thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of part of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view partially in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a detail plan View of the locking plate or slide, and v Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a modified form of the invention.

In the construction of motor vehicle bodies it has heretofore been commony practice to mount ythe seats thereof on supports more orless elevated above the floor of the vehicle body',and'to utilize the space beneath the yseats vand above the vioor for the storage of tools.,- curtains and other accessories. The battery for the lighting and ignition system of, the, vehicle .hasl ,also frequently been mounted inthe 4space so 4provided beneath ,theyehleseata end-Particularly isili@ from;

seat of the vehicle utilized for this purpose.

`When a space of this nature is utilized for storage purposes it frequently happens that tools, batteries, and other detachable paraphern alia of considerable value, not attached to the vehicle, are placed therein, and it becomes desirable to provide a closure for such a compartment which may be locked to prevent unauthorized access thereto. To this end these compartments are frequently provided with hinged doors having locks whereby the contents of the compartment might he secured.

The frame on which the seats of motor vehicles are mounted Ordinarily includes members which extend transversely of the vehicle body, and the forward edge of this frame is usually provided with a retaining strip or ledge by means of which the seat cushion is prevented from sliding forwardly on the frame. This seat cushion is ordinarily freely removable from its supporting frame and the loss of such cushions by theft and in other ways has been experienced.

These and other obvious shortcomings of the usual construction are obviated in the present invention in which the seat cushion is removably secured in place to serve as a cover or lid for the compartment or storage space within its frame. At the same time the construction of the seat frame is much simplified permitting the omission of the expensive cushion retaining strip.

Referring to the drawing, at is shown a portion of the body of a motor vehicle having passenger seating compartment 11 in which is mounted a seat of well known form. This seat comprises a back portion 12, consisting of a cushion permanently secured to the frame members of the vehicle body in any convenient manner (not shown). The lower end of the seat back 12 is secured to a frame which constitutes the support for aseebushioe 13g lathe form .Shown this frame comprises a pair of transverse members 14 and 16, on which are carried cushion abutnients 17 and 18. The cushion 13 is provided with a suitable frame, the base of which is indicated by the members 19, on which is mounted the usual cushion springs and upholstery padding in a manner well known in the art to which this invention relates. A trim stick 2O may be secured to the abutment 18 to provide for attaching the upholstery ofthe back cushion 12.

The vehicle body 10 is provided with av fioor 21, supported in the ordinary wayupon the cross frame members 22 of the vehicle body, and thisflooris extended beneath y'the frame members 14 and 16, defining therewith a space 23 which may constitute a compartment for the storage of'tools, or curtains, the mounting of batteries, or other desirable purposes. It will be seen that the compartment 23 is completely closed except at its top, and the sole cover for this compartment is formed bythe seat cushion 13.

' Il-he abutment member 17 at the forward portion of the seat frame is preferably drilled as indicated at 24 for the reception of a dowel pin 26 which is rigidly secured tothe Aforward frame member 19 of the seat cushion in any convenient manner, as by means of the screws 27. The lower end of the dowel pin 26 projects into a recess 28 formed'in the frame member 14 and is provided at a point near its lower end with a notch or grooveV 29.

Slidably mounted in the recess 28 below r the lower face of the cushion abut-ment 17 is a lock plate or slide 32, having at its fory ward end a curved portion 33 adapted for use'as a handle or a pull. The lock plate 32 is provided with a number of holes and slots most clearly shown in F ig. 4. Near the rear end of the plate is an elongated slot 34 by which the plate-is slidably secured to the abutment 17, as by means of the screw 36. Forwardly of the slot 34 isa key-hole slot 37 the narrow portion 38 of which is adapted to engage in the notch 29 of the dowel pin 26. The larger portion at the rear end of the key-hole slot 37 has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the dowel'pin 26, and this pin maybe freely passed through this larger portion of the slot 37 as will be readily understood.

suitably secured to the forward face of the frame member 14, as by meansofv the screws 39, is a lock 41 of any desired construction. `In the formillustrated in Figs. 1. 2 and 3, this lock is of-thewellkno'wn cylinder type having a rearwardly extending portion 42, ec'cenf trically mounted withvrespect to the aXis of the main portion 43, and adapted to actuate a slidably mounted bolt 44. As the construction of the locks of this character is well understoo d lfurtherk description thereof is un'- necesary. The upper end of thefbolt 44 is adapted to" engage in a hole- 465formed irithe The rearmost cushion frame member 19 is t preferably provided with Vsuitable means to prevent the raising of the rear end of the cushion independently of the 'front end. In the'embodiment shown such means comprises hook shaped members 51, rigidly secured to the members-19 asby means of screws 52,V and adapted to clip vunder and engage the rearmost abutment member 18in a'manner which will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2. The members 51 thus not only providefor theaccurate positioning of the rear of the cushion 13 with respectto its framebut prevent removal of the cushion by' initial lifting of the rear end thereof.

l T he operation of the mechanism above described will be readily understood.y hen the lock 41 is unlocked and the bolt 44 thereof is in its lowermost position, the lock plate 32 may be freely moved in the direction of its length a distance permitted by the travel of the screw 36 in the slot 34 and the pillars 47 in their slots 48. When the plate 32 is pulled out as far as possible, the dowel pin 26 will be disposed in the larger portion at'the rear end of the key-hole Vslot 37, so thatin this position theV dowel pin'may be withdrawn from the plate 32and its hole 24thus permitting removal of the seat cushion 13 in an upward and forward direction. lith the slide in this same forward position the dowel pin 26 may also be passed through the large end ofxthe key-hole slot 37 so that in this position the cushion 13 may be returned to its position on the abutment members'17 and 18. If now` the plate 32 isV pushed rearwardly, the narrow portion 38 of the keyhole slot 37 engages inthe sides of the notch 29 thus preventing the withdrawal of the dowel pin from the'plate and consequently preventing removal of the seatcus'hion from its frame.` When the plate is moved to its rearmost position the lock bolt 44 is in. alignment with the hole 46 therein, and by rotatingthe cylinder 43 of the lock 41 by its key, thisbolt can be moved into engagement with the hole 46 to prevent movement of the plate 32. In this-way it will beevident that the seat cushion 13 is not onlyrigidlypositioned Von-the seatframeoverthe compartment 23 but may bek positivelylocked in this position, thereby preventing unauthorized removal of either the cushion 13 vor the contents ofthe compartment 23. l 'l Y.

In the, modification of the inventionfillus trated in Fig. y5, the uppervv face oftheV seat abutment member `17 is'reeessed for'the reiception of: a rectal.- 'stripor plate' 53, which may be secured to the member 17 in any convenient Way, as by the bolts 54 and screws 55. The forward end of the plate 53 is turned up in front of the cushion frame member 19 and is hinged, as at 56, to a lock supporting plate 57 on which is secured a lock 58 of the well known trunk type. This lock consists of a barrel having laterally disposed openings 59 in which bolts 61 are slidably mounted. The bolts 61 are extended and retracted through the openings 59 by suitable mechanism within the barrel (not shown), which is actuated i by the key of the operator in the well known manner. The construction of locks of this type is well known in the art, and as it forms no part of the present invention further description is not deemed necessary. The forwardly disposed face of the seat cushion 13 is provided with a plate 62 having a portion suitably secured to the cushion frame member 19 as by means of screws 63. To this plate is secured a lock receiving member 64 into which the lock 58 may project, and the sides of this member 64 are provided with suitable recesses (not shown) in which the bolts 61 may engage to lock the parts. The receiving member 64 may be clamped, together with the material forming the covering of the seat cushion 13, between washers 65 and 66 in any appropriate way, as by the screws 67, an opening being provided in the cushion material to permit insertion of the lock 58 in the member 64.

Suitably secured to the lower face of the seat cushion frame in any convenient manner, as by the screws 68, is an angle member 69, the depending leg of which is adapted for engagement behind the rear :tace of the supporting abutment member 17. It will be evident that when the seat is in position on its frame with the angle member 69 disposed behind the abutment 17 and the lock 58 engaged in the member 64, that the cushion is retained in such position and cannot be moved from this position without unlocking the device.

It will be understood that various forms of the invention other than those described above may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I/Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a lock mechanism, a member to be locked, a pin Carried by the member, said pin having a groove, a slide movable relative to the member to be locked, said slide having `a slot for ooaction with the groove in the pin, ya bolt movable transversely through the slide and means for locking the bolt.

2." In a lock mechanism, a member to be locked, a pin carried by the member to be locked, said pin having a groove, a slide movableinwardly and outwardly, a pull for the slide, said slide having a keyhole slot forl coaction with the groove in the pin, a bolt mov- 

